Manila:

The wife of a governor in Bicol region, southern Luzon came out from her hideaway and said she was afraid for her life after her husband threatened her and blamed her for allegedly uploading intimate photos of him with his mistress on social media.

A village protection order from Quezon City was already issued for the sake of Josefina Tallado, so that she would not be disturbed by Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado, said lawyer Lorna Kapunan.

“This will prevent the governor from getting near his wife, from stalking or sending threatening messages to her,” said Kapuno, adding it will be valid for 15 days after which a temporary protection order for 30 days will also be filed in court.

Explaining why the governor’s wife needed protection, Kapunan said,“The governor confiscated his wife’s three mobile phones and iPad, destroyed her laptop with a gun, and disconnected the internet connection in their house.”

Narrating her rift with her husband, Josefina Tallado said, “Last Wednesday when he confronted me [about his photos with his mistress], I saw a gun tucked behind his waist.”

“He accused me and my friend, Darlene Francisco, of uploading his photos with his mistress on Facebook,” she said, adding the governor was having an affair with his mistress for the past 10 years.

“The first time I saw him very angry, I felt I had to leave,” she said.

Narrating how she escaped, Josefina said she and her friend drove a black Toyota Fortuner which they abandoned it in Lupi town. They proceeded to Naga City on a motorcycle, and bought a second hand car that she drove to Manila.

When authorities found her abandoned car last Monday, Governor Tallado was teary eyed when he announced on TV that his wife was kidnapped in Lupi, Camarines Sur.

She was missing since Friday, he said and vowed to look for her. He created “Task Force Josie” for the mission.

In a Catholic country such as the Philippines, powerful politicians are known to have mistresses.

Divorce is not allowed in the Philippines, but marriage vows could be annulled civilly.